Interlude 2.41: The new Animus family

-Break-

Location: Animal pens

As we approach the animal pens, I see everyone from the campsite. Then, when we arrive in front of them, I say, "It wasn't nice to abandon me!"

Edward says, "I called you multiple times, but you were so lost in your own thoughts that you just blocked me."

"So I came to get you," Charles says.

"Well, so what are we supposed to do no-," I pause for a moment as I realise something, Mariana is standing there even more beautiful than ever.

Upon seeing me, she hides behind Sandra and says, "Don't look at me!"

"Why?"

"The groom isn't supposed to see his bride until the ceremony."

"That makes no sense, my parents were always together from the moment he proposed till they drank each other's blood."

"Well, that's not how we do things on my island, and what do you mean they drank each other's blood? Are your people demons?"

"That's simply how we showed our love! But I don't want to talk about that because you look amazing right now."

Mariana hides behind Sandra and says, "Don't tell me that or I might start bleeding from my nose again!"

Sandra says, "We took apart the old dress she had when she came here and used it to decorate her current clothes."

Another member of the campsite, Lia, says, "Mariana kept very good care of her old clothes so even now they look as good as new."

"You're right, she looks amazing!"

"SHUT UP!" Looking over towards Charles, she says, "Why did you even bring us here? How have none of the beastkin come to stop us? And where the hell are my pigs!?"

Charles says, "Catch me if you can," Then runs away into a nearby forest.

After making a series of very frustrated expressions, Mariana says, "EVERYONE AFTER HIM!"

I say, "YOU HEARD THE BRIDE, ALL YOU BASTARDS BETTER FIND HIM!"

We all run towards Charles, who is moving slower than usual. Is he trying to let us catch up to him? Looking at Mariana's face, I noticed all the shyness she was feeling had vanished.

While smiling, I say, "You little brat!"

-Break-

They chase Charles through the forest, and as the group does, they see a flower petal fly their way. But undeterred by this, they keep running and run into more and more flowers.

Then, after a few moments, they break through all of the trees and find an area surrounded by trees filled with sunlight. And throughout that area, even on the trees, are countless blue flowers the exact same shade as Charles's hair.

Standing in the middle of those blue flowers, Charles says, "Surprise!"

Everyone looks around in amazement, and I walk up to Charles and says, "What is this?"

"Your wedding area. It is much nicer to be married here than in the hut, I think. And in case you get sad, you can look at all the flowers and get reminded of me!"

I laugh, then rub Charles's head, and say, "You're right about that."

Whilst turning around, I say, "Isn't this beautiful Marian-." But I stop as I see Mariana staring at the flowers with tears falling from her eyes.

Erratically moving over to her, I ask, "What's wrong?"

Wiping her tears, she says, "These flowers are from my country. I had thought every single one had burned down with the country, but some are still here."

"What, how could that even be possible?"

"I don't know, but these are without a doubt from my country; they are the same ones my mom always kept on her."

A voice from afar says, "I planted them in my garden."

The voice is one I have heard all too often; it is Dónal. He says, "I took the flowers from a dead woman and planted them over her body. Their numbers kept growing over the years, and I just gave some to Charles to pull off this ridiculous plan."

Angered I say, "Hey what kind of thing is that to say on her wedding day."

But as I speak, Mariana gets up and walks past me all the way over to the trees, and Dónal is sitting behind. "Mariana, where are you going?"

As Dónal hears Mariana approach, he says, "Do you have something to say to me, human?"

Standing in front of the sitting Dónal, she bows a bit and says, "Thank you," With tears falling from her eyes.

Dónal is dumbfounded by this and as he sits there in confusion, Mariana says, "That flower was something that my father cultivated just for my mother, so she had always held onto to it tightly.

I have been scared, no, terrified of what has happened to my mother over the years. I had suspected that she had died a horrible death, and somewhere her body was hanging on a pike to be used as a tool of fear against others.

But knowing that is not only not true, but that she got buried under such flowers as well brings nothing but joy into my heart. I thank you because today, the one thing that bothered me most in life has left."

Dónal looks away from Mariana's face and says, "Whatever, I just gave this because I had excess and Charles asked, it has nothing to do with you in the slightest."

In that moment, Charles flashes back to when they took the flowers from the garden and remembers that all but three flowers were taken to make this area, and he remembers the smile Dónal had on his face while doing it.

With a sweet yet sour tone, Dónal says, "You can do whatever you want with them; it is not like I have any use for them, so take them, idiot human."

Nero says, "Hey, watch your tone!"

But Mariana just bows and says, "Thank you so much."

Running back over to Nero, she says, "Let's get this started!"

A noise echoes through the area, which causes Mariana to say, "I know those oinks anywhere!"

Soon, her pigs rush out from the forest and tackle her. Rubbing them, she says, "I missed you guys. You're so adorable I can't I missed you."

"I asked Dónal to let me bring them," Charles says.

"THANK YOU!" Mariana screams.

Dónal then says, "They were getting sad because you wouldn't see them anymore. It is only a logical decision, no emotion attached."

Walking up to Nero, I ask, "Hey, what about my-."

"Then they are here as well, just deeper in the forest, we just need to guide them back."

Sandra says, "Now that we have your flowers, can't we add the finishing touches to the ceremony?"

"She's right!" Mariana says with vigour. "Wait, if we can move stuff around, there is a bit of redecorating I would like to do!"

Clapping her hands, Sandra says, "If you would groom, please give us a few moments with the bride."

-Break-

Everyone and all the animals sit on the flowers, and in front of them, Mariana and Nero stand facing each other, holding each other's hands tightly with Charles and Edward standing behind them.

The area where they stand has been decorated with flowers in a specific pattern at Mariana's request. Throughout both of their clothes are flowers, and on their heads are crowns made of flowers.

Mariana stares at Nero while shaking, and he does the same back to her while shaking. Then, in the middle of both of them, Charles shakes as well, barely holding in his excitement.

With his head mere minutes away from exploding, Nero turns to Charles and says, "Please begin."

Turning to Edward, Charles asks, "What were my lines again?"

Edward whispers something in his ear, and then Charles says, "Today both this man and woman will be joined in holy marriage."

Edward giggles a little as Charles, the usual calm and collected boy, messes up his lines. But then Charles looks at him for his next lines, and Edward whispers in his ear again.

"Now speak your hearts," Charles says.

They both freeze, unable to say anything, but Mariana looks at him, then says, "I don't like being here. I like the people and all of my animals. You all mean a lot to me, but without a doubt, I would have been happier if I had stayed in my home for the rest of my life.

But you, Nero, make me doubt that resolve completely. Simply being with you makes me just as happy. So even if god makes me a king tomorrow, or even if I am in the pits of hell, I would want you right there beside me.

Wait, no, I don't want you to go to hell, I am sorry!"

I laugh, then take a deep breath, and shout MARIANA I LOVE YOU!"

All the animals start to get giddy, and Mariana's face turns scarlet red. "Mariana, I don't really have faith in anything. Not god, not the world, not myself, and the only thing I had faith in, my friends and family, is something I have given up for better or for worse in my heart.

But meeting you makes me believe that maybe god does exist because the fact that I could find such a light in hell could only be the hand of god. So even if I can't fully put it into words, I just want you to know, Mariana, I love you."

Both Nero and Mariana have completely calmed down and are staring at each other. Seeing calms Charles as well, who says, "Nero, from this moment on, do you fully in mind, body and soul vow to eternally unite with the existence that is the woman before you, in all of life, and all of death.

"I do."

"Mariana, from this moment on, do you fully in mind, body and soul vow to eternally unite with the existence that is the man before you, in all of life, and all of death."

"I do."

"Now exchange flowers."

Mariana takes a flower off and prepares to give it to Nero, who does the same. But before the exchange, Nero bites his finger and covers it in blood.

"What are you doing?" Mariana asks.

Well, since you won't drink my blood, this is the next best option."

Mariana opens her eyes, and then does the same with her flower. They both hand each other their flowers, covered in blood, and add them to their flower crowns.

Charles then says, "You may now kiss the brid-."

Before the last syllable leaves Charles' mouth, they start to kiss passionately in front of everyone. They kiss so much that everyone in the area is shocked by the scene unfolding in front of them.

But to Mariana and Nero, no one else existed at that moment except the two of them. Pulling back, Nero says, "I love you."

Mariana, looking back at him, says, "I love you too."

Everyone in the area proceeds to celebrate the joyous day, unable to hold back all of their happiness. Seeing them, one would never guess that those who were smiling so happily were all slaves.

-Break-

Location: Beastkin dorms

Φ Smashing his bottle on the ground, Ryan says, "How dare breastmilk talk to us like that. Did you see that smug look on his face yesterday? he looked at us as if we were beneath him."

Smashing his foot into the ground, Finn says, "We need to punish that annoying twat."

Cian says, "But what are we going to do about it? He keeps all of the records of our unworked pay close to hand, so if he were to die and they send someone to investigate, we will be at the top of the list."

Daniel says, "What if we faked it?"

"What are you on about?"

"His death, what if we faked it?"

"Didn't you hear what we just talked about?"

"Yeah, but what about Samhain, if we make it seem like he got attacked by some spirits? They probably won't investigate it too much."

"But that would require us to get rid of his body with no trace, so it can't be sniffed out."

Ryan, sitting up, says, "The moat."

Suddenly, everyone in the room was attuned to what Ryan was saying. "Also, remember that Liam should be coming back around that time. So if we were to get him to launch an investigation into breastmilk's disappearance, he could probably spin it favourably for us."

Finn says, "Are we all serious about this?"

With a smile, Ryan says, "I am, even if I have to do this alone. Breastmilk you're days are fucking numbered."